Fluid vessel combinable with cups

ABSTRACT

There&#39;s disclosed a combination of a vessel for containing fluid with a cup and a fastening device. The fastening device attaches outer sidewalls of the vessel to inner sidewalls of the cup. In embodiments, the vessel is combined with a plurality of cups having an external cup containing a number of internal cups that includes an innermost internal cup placeable onto the lower outer sidewalls of the vessel. The fastening device can be represented in the form of a peripheral collar on the vessel&#39;s sidewalls and a counterpart cutoff on the cup&#39;s sidewalls, or of peripheral cutoffs made on the vessel&#39;s and cup&#39;s sidewalls with a resilient tightening element placed therebetween, or screw threadings on the vessel&#39;s and cup&#39;s sidewalls. The sidewalls can be circular or ribbed. The vessel and cup can be made of glass, metal, or plastic. The vessel-cup combination is convenient to use, and easy to transport.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of a U.S. national stage application Ser. No. 12/733,782 (filed on 18 Mar. 2010) of a PCT application PCT/RU2008/000565 (filed on 19 Aug. 2008), published as WO/2009/038497, whose disclosure is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, which PCT application claims priority of a Russian Federation application RU2007136144 (filed on 20 Sep. 2007). The aforementioned U.S. application Ser. No. 12/733,782 is hereby expressly abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to containers used for attachment to bottles, or similar vessels having bottlenecks or similar openings for pouring the contents in and out. The vessels may have shapes with cross-sections configured as a closed curvilinear contour, for instance, a circle, or as a polygon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is known a U.S. Pat. No. 3,461,512, according to which utensils (e.g. a spoon, knife, fork) can be utilized particularly with vessels for liquid (yogurt, sour cream, etc.).

In the industry, there are known liquid vessels, furnished with a dozer/batcher/cup, made as a container placeable on the top of the vessel usable for detergent, e.g. a vessel for detergent ‘Persil’, importer OAO “Henkel-ERA”, located at: Moskovskoye Shosse 1, Tosno, Leningrad Region, 187000, Russia.

In terms of technical substance and functional performance, the most similar to the present invention is a vessel for liquid, according to a Russian Federation Patent for useful model RU 52822, which vessel comprises a body with a bottom portion, combined with a cup-container shaped as a cup, wherein the container is so configured that is capable of being mounted with its opening onto the body of vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a design for a fluid vessel, e.g. a bottle usable for vodka, beer, or wine, which vessel has a vessel body combinable with at least one dozer/batcher or cup (herein further called ‘cup’), while the design of the cup would be simple and the cup can be easy manufactured. As a rule, the cup's shape should correspond to the shape of the vessel.

For this purpose a fluid vessel is proposed, which vessel in its preferred embodiment comprises: a vessel body with a lower sidewall and bottom portion, wherein the vessel body is combined with a cup (in alternative embodiments, a plurality of cups) so configured that is capable of being removably fitted with its open end face onto the vessel's lower sidewall and bottom portion with a predetermined tension.

The vessel is characterized in that the cross-sections of the vessel and of the cup can be configured as a closed curvilinear contour (e.g. a circular cross-section, the corresponding sidewalls are herein called ‘circular’ sidewalls that can belong to a cylindrical, a conical or a similar vessel), or as a polygon contour (the corresponding sidewalls are herein called ‘ribbed’ sidewalls).

The vessel is characterized in that, in an embodiment, the cup can be configured as a container with gauge marks on its sidewalls.

The vessel is characterized in that, in an embodiment, the vessel body and the cup are correspondingly threaded so that the cup is capable of being crewed on the vessel body.

The vessel is characterized in that, in an embodiment, the vessel body has circular/polygon sidewalls formed with a concave cutoff located at a predetermined height of the vessel, whereas the cup has circular/polygon sidewalls formed with a counterpart concave cutoff located at the same height thereof. A resilient element is inserted into the vessel's cutoff, so that when the resilient element is embraced between the cutoff surfaces, its elastic deformation causes a counteracting compression thereby increasing friction and securing the cup on the vessel body.

The vessel is characterized in that the vessel body and the cup are made of at least one of the following materials: glass, metal, and plastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The inventive combination of a vessel and a cup is illustrated in the following drawings appended to the present disclosure and made an irrevocable part thereof:

FIGS. 1, 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c are sectional views of a liquid vessel (bottle) having outer sidewalls combined with a cup having inner sidewalls, wherein the inner and outer sidewalls have circular cross-sections, according to embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 1 c illustrates an embodiment with gauge marks on the vessel's body.

FIGS. 2, 2 a, and 2 b are sectional views of a liquid vessel (bottle), having outer sidewalls, combined with a cup, having circular inner sidewalls and ribbed outer sidewalls, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3, 3 a, and 3 b are sectional views of a liquid vessel (bottle) combined with a cup having ribbed outer and inner sidewalls, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4, 4 a, and 4 b are sectional views of a liquid vessel (bottle) having circular outer sidewalls with a treaded portion located in a lower region of the vessel's body, combined with a cup having a corresponding threaded portion on its outer sidewalls, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5, 5 a, 5 b, and 5 c are sectional views of a liquid vessel (bottle) having circular outer sidewalls, combined with an internal (first) cup placeable over the vessel at a lower region of the vessel's body, and having circular inner and outer sidewalls, and an external (second) cup placeable over the internal cup and having circular inner sidewalls, according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 a illustrates the vessel's body, whereas FIGS. 5 b and 5 c illustrate the external and internal cups respectively.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a liquid vessel (bottle) with a cup coupled by means of a tightening resilient ring placed between the outer sidewalls of the vessel and inner sidewalls of the cup.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there are described in detail herein, specific embodiments of the present invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as exemplified herein.

As illustrated on FIGS. 1, 1 a, and 1 b, in an embodiment of the present invention, a liquid vessel 1 (bottle) has outer circular sidewalls (shown in the detail view B-B of FIG. 1 a), and is combined with a cup 2 having inner circular sidewalls (shown in the detail view C-C of FIG. 1 b). The cup 2 is made of a suitable material that has predetermined flexibility. The outer vessel's sidewalls are formed with a convex collar circumferentially located preferably in the top portion thereof, whereas the inner cup's sidewalls are formed with a concave cutoff circumferentially located opposite the convex collar, such that the cutoff and the collar are capable of releasable engaging (shown in the detail view A-A of FIG. 1). Thusly, when one depresses the cup 2 against the vessel 1, and, due to the cup's flexibility, the collar is snug-fitted onto and engaged with the cutoff thereby securing the cup on the vessel's body; when one pulls the cup 2 from the vessel 1, the collar is disengaged from the cutoff, thereby releasing the cup.

As mentioned above, the vessel body can have cross-sections configured as a curvilinear contour, or a polygon, wherein the cup's inner sidewalls should correspond to the outer sidewalls of the vessel (i.e. essentially repeat its shape, as shown on FIGS. 2 and 2 a, and similarly on FIGS. 3 and 3 a) to allow for being snug-fitted onto the vessel body with a predetermined tension (e.g. the cup is tightly depressed to the vessel, it commonly does not protrude beyond the vessel body, and occupies a minimal volume relatively to the vessel body, making a single whole therewith). On the other hand, the outer sidewalls of the cup may have a shape different (e.g. ribbed) from the inner sidewalls of the cup (as shown on FIG. 2 b), or essentially the same shape (as shown on FIG. 3 b).

Typically, the cup is preferably fixed on the vessel's body substantially gaplessly that enhances the aesthetic appearance of the vessel. For the same reason, the cup (and the vessel body) can be made of a color material. In some embodiments, the cup can have a predeterminedly minimal gap while providing easy removal of the cup from the vessel body.

The cup 2 and vessel body 1 can be made with a screw threading that enables one to crew the cup on the vessel body, as shown on FIGS. 4, 4 a, and 4 b. The threading is shown in the lower region of outer sidewalls of vessel 1 and in the lower region of inner sidewalls of cup 2. The cup 2 may have gauge marks on its sidewalls, as illustrated on FIG. 1 c.

As noted hereinabove, a vessel body can be combined with a number of cups engaged therewith in a similar manner. An exemplary embodiment with two cups associated with the vessel is illustrated on FIGS. 5, 5 a, 5 b, and 5 c. According to such an embodiment, a liquid vessel 1 has circular outer sidewalls, and is combined with an internal (first) cup 2 placeable over the vessel at a lower region of the vessel's body, and having circular inner and outer sidewalls, and an external (second) cup 3 placeable over the internal cup 2 and having circular inner sidewalls. In this embodiment, the cups 2 and 3 are made of a suitable material that has predetermined flexibility; the height of cup 3 is greater than the height of cup 2 (as shown on FIG. 5).

The outer vessel's sidewalls are formed with a convex collar peripherally located preferably in the top portion thereof, such that the collar outstands above and beyond the outer sidewalls of cup 2. The inner sidewalls of cup 3 are formed with a concave cutoff circumferentially located opposite the convex collar, such that the cutoff and the collar are capable of releasable engaging (shown in the detail view A-A of FIG. 4). Thusly, when one places the cup 2 over the lower portion of vessel 1, then places the cup 3 over the cup 2, and then depresses the cup 3 against the vessel 1, the collar is snug-fitted onto and engaged with the cutoff thereby securing the cup 3 and the cup 2 on the vessel's body; when one pulls the cup 3 from the vessel 1, the collar is disengaged from the cutoff, thereby releasing the cup 3 and the cup 2.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a vessel can generally be combined with a plurality of N cups, wherein: the plurality of N cups consists of:—N−1 internal cups including an innermost internal cup having a size such that the lower portion of the vessel can be inserted into the innermost cup, and an outermost internal cup having a maximal size and a maximal height among the internal cups; and—an external cup having a size and a height predeterminedly greater than the maximal size and the maximal height of the outermost internal cup (which is used for arrangement of the collar). The internal cups are correspondingly inserted into each other and the outermost internal cup is inserted into the external cup. Optionally, the collar of vessel and the cutoff of cup can have a polygon shape (not illustrated).

The cup can be made with a rubber or another tightening (compression) element in the vicinity of contact of the cup (e.g. the upper part thereof) with the vessel body. An example of such embodiment is illustrated on FIG. 6. According to the embodiment, a liquid vessel 1 with a cup 2 coupled by means of a tightening resilient ring 4 placed between outer sidewalls of the vessel and inner sidewalls of the cup.

In this embodiment, the vessel 1 has circular sidewalls formed with a concave ring-shaped cutoff peripherally located at a predetermined height of the vessel, whereas the cup 2 has circular sidewalls formed with a counterpart concave ring-shaped cutoff located at the same height thereof. As illustrated on the detail view A-A of FIG. 6, the tightening ring 4 is inserted into the vessel's cutoff (or alternatively, into the cup's cutoff—not illustrated), so that when the tightening ring is embraced between the cutoff surfaces, its elastic deformation causes a counteracting compression, increasing friction, and thereby securing the cup 2 on the vessel 1. Due to flexibility of the cup, one can pull the cup from the vessel thereby disengaging the cup's cutoff from the tightening ring.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a vessel can generally be combined with a plurality of N cups, wherein: the plurality of N cups consists of:—N−1 internal cups including an innermost internal cup having a size such that the lower portion of the vessel can be inserted into the innermost cup, and an outermost internal cup having a maximal size and a maximal height among the internal cups; and—an external cup having a size and a height predeterminedly greater than the maximal size and the maximal height of the outermost internal cup (which is used for arrangement of the vessel's cutoff). The internal cups are correspondingly inserted into each other; and the outermost internal cup is inserted into the external cup. The vessel's body has a concave ring-shaped cutoff peripherally located at a predetermined height of the vessel, whereas the external cup has circular sidewalls formed with a counterpart concave ring-shaped cutoff located at the same height thereof. The external cup is attached to the vessel's body by means of a resilient tightening element inserted therebetween (e.g. pulled upon the vessel's cutoff). Optionally, the cutoffs of the vessel and cup can have a polygon shape (not illustrated).

Optionally, the vessel body may contain granular material that may be successfully dosed with the cup. The vessel body and cup can be made of any suitable material, including glass, plastic, and metal.

The inventive vessel is convenient to use, since the cup is always available, one needs to only remove it from the vessel body. The liquid vessel with the cup is easy to transport. 

I claim:
 1. A combination of a vessel for containing fluid with a cup and with a means for fastening the cup to the vessel, wherein: said vessel has a lower portion with outer sidewalls; said cup has inner sidewalls; and said means for fastening attach said outer sidewalls of the lower portion of the vessel to said inner sidewalls of the cup.
 2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said outer sidewalls of the lower portion of the vessel and said inner sidewalls of the cup have cross-sections configured as a closed curvilinear contour, or as a polygon contour.
 3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said cup is configured as a container with gauge marks.
 4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said vessel and said cup are made of at least one of the following materials: glass, metal, and plastic.
 5. A combination of a vessel for containing fluid with a plurality of N cups and with a means for fastening said plurality of N cups to the vessel, wherein said vessel has a lower portion with outer sidewalls; said plurality of N cups consists of: N−1 internal cups including an innermost internal cup having a size such that the lower portion of the vessel can be inserted into the innermost cup, and an outermost internal cup having a maximal size and a maximal height among the internal cups; and an external cup having a size and a height predeterminedly greater than the maximal size and the maximal height of the outermost internal cup; said external cup has inner sidewalls; wherein said internal cups are correspondingly inserted into each other and the outermost internal cup is inserted into the external cup; and said means for fastening attach said outer sidewalls of the lower portion of the vessel to said inner sidewalls of the external cup.
 6. The combination according to claim 5, wherein said outer sidewalls of the lower portion of the vessel and said inner sidewalls of the cups of said plurality of N cups have cross-sections configured as a closed curvilinear contour, or as a polygon contour.
 7. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said vessel and the cups of said plurality of N cups are made of at least one of the following materials: glass, metal, and plastic. 